Winter Activities

Pre-K Writing Activities

Celebrating the 100th day of school!

Although the first day of school hasn't started yet, here is an idea for down the road.  When my Kindergarten class celebrated the 100th day of school, I asked everyone to dress like they were 100 years old.  One of the girls wore rollers in her hair, one boy walked with a cane, another child wore glasses, etc.  I wore a gray wig, a buttoned down floral night gown, and rolled down knee stockings.  This gave a new meaning to "Old School."  Most of the other teachers thought I was a visitor.  We had a lot of fun!

Muffin Pan Math

Muffin pans make great sorting trays!  Choose items you have around the house (buttons, colorful paper clips, hair accessories, candy, etc.) or around the classroom (pom pom balls, beads, googly eyes, etc.) and have your children sort them.  Below I used my daughter's hair bows and barrettes.  Sort objects by color, shapes, or sizes, the possibilities are endless.

Turn kitchen items into classroom items

Magnetic Mat
Your aluminum cookie sheet can be used for more than just baking cookies.  Turn it into a learning mat by using magnetic letters and numbers on it. 

Time Out Timer
When you have to send your little ones to time out, one question typically exits from their lips within moments.  "When can I get up?" Make both of your lives easier by spending a couple of dollars on a kitchen timer.  By setting the timer, your students will know when it is time to get up and will be less incline to ask you.

Handwriting Practice

Encourage your children to practice their handwriting by giving them some creative alternatives. 

Write in flour

 

Write in shaving cream or use whip cream if your little ones still put their fingers in their mouths

 

Rice is also a great writing alternative.

Thematic Units

Whether you are teaching in a public or private school, in a preschool or daycare setting, or are homeschooling your Pre-K/Kindergarten children, I have developed lessons and activities that you can use every day for more than an entire school year.  My "Teaching with Thematic Units" series is broken up into the following 4 units, "Teaching with Thematic Units (Beginning of the School Year)," "Teaching with Fall Thematic Units," "Teaching with Winter Thematic Units," and "Teaching with Spring Thematic Units."  Together, the units total over 55 weeks of lessons!

Because I have taught Pre-K and Kindergarten in a variety of capacities (public school, private preschool, at-home preschool, and I am currently homeschooling my kiddos), I understand the importance of daily, hands-on, fun lessons that cover various subjects.  My "Teaching with Thematic Units" provide step-by-step instructions for Math, Language Arts, Science/Social Studies, and Art activities at very affordable prices. 

Pet Activities

Children often like animals whether it's watching them from a distance or owning a pet of their own.  Because of this, pet related lessons and activities are typically a big hit with kiddos. 

Paper Plate Turtle

 

 

Cat Patterns

Repurposing a Shoe Rack

Need a shelf for those classroom supplies or want to add some creativity to your Dramatic Play Center?  Below I have used an expandable shoe rack and baskets to hold items for my House Center.

It's Nursery Rhyme Time!

Have fun with these Nursery Rhyme activities! 

Make a Paper Mache Humpty Dumpty by dipping newspaper strips into a flour/water mixture, then covering an inflated balloon.  Attach arms, legs, and large google eyes to it after it has dried and hardened.

 

 

Count plums with Little Jack Horner by using an aluminum pie pan.

 

 

Use yarn and a paper plate to weave an Itsy Bitsy Spider web.

 

 

Cookie and Candy Activities

If your children/students are like mine, their eyes light up when presented with the occasional sweet treat.  Why not use that excitement to teach a variety of subjects and concepts?  "A Sweet Thematic Unit" uses cookies, candy, and ice cream to teach Math, Language Arts, and Science/Social Studies.  Art activities are provided also.  Before you panic with the thought of your kiddos being on a sugar rush all day, most of the activities are printables and do not involve consuming the sweet treats.

Wrapped Candy



 

 

 Colorful Skittles

 

 

 Placing letter cookies in alphabetical order on a cookie sheet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Winter Activities

The cold weather is a great introduction for winter related topics, such as snow and mittens.  By creating winter portraits, making large cotton ball snowmen, and matching lowercase scarves to uppercase snowmen, etc., winter can be fun for the kids indoors and outdoors. 

Moving Right Along with a Unit on Transportation!

Matching numbered airplanes to clouds 

 

Making a fire truck with construction paper and popsicle sticks

 

 

 Creating a hot air balloon with construction paper, a paper cup, and tissue paper

 



 Making a train with square sponges and fingerprints 

 

Has keeping up with puzzles left you feeling puzzled?

Here is a helpful solution.  Number all of your puzzles, then write corresponding numbers on the backs of all the puzzle pieces.  In case you find a missing piece, you will know exactly where it goes.

 

Completing a puzzle can sometimes be a challenge for little ones.  Give them a helping hand by creating an outline of the puzzle.  Remove one puzzle piece at a time and draw around it with a permanent marker.  Knowing the shape of the pieces can be a helpful tool in helping children complete it.

Name Plates

The start of a new year usually puts me in the mood to do some extra cleaning and organizing.  By now your students' name plates are probably looking a little ragged.  Why not start the new year off with some new name plates?   Did I mention they are free?  Click here to get your free set.